vi 



JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. III. 



Having so recently obtained possession of the present building, 

 the Curator of your Museum has not been able to accomplish much 

 as yet. A commencement has, however, been made, with the Raw 

 Products of the Island ; and it is hoped, that during the present 

 session, this collection may be made complete and interesting. Your 

 Committee believe they are not wrong in assuming, that the natural 

 products of a country form the most interesting portion of its 

 wealth, since from them spring so many branches of industry and 

 commerce. As yet but little has been done towards developing the 

 riches which it is believed may be found hidden amidst the jungles 

 of the Southern and Noith-Westren Provinces, as well as in the forests 

 and plains of the Eastern and Northern Provinces. Evidences are 

 not wanting to shew that Ceylon is rich in Gums, Dye-stuffs, Resins, 

 Tanning substances, and many other articles of considerable com- 

 mercial value ; and, it is thought, that one of the duties of this Society 

 should be, to give a place in its Museum to all articles likely to 

 prove interesting to the man of science, the trader, or the manufacturer. 



Your Committee have received through the Honorable the Colo- 

 nial Secretary, the Prospectus of an Inter-Colonial Exhibition, pro- 

 posed to be held in the Mauritius in the month of August of the 

 present year. They would gladly have taken an active part as far 

 as practicable in this Exhibition ; but felt that the notice was so 

 short, that it would have been impossible to have collected any 

 contributions during the brief period allowed. 



They haw also received very recently from this Government, a 

 Circular letter, addressed by Her Majesty's Secretary of State to the 

 Governors of Colonies, on the subject of a communication from the 

 Society of Arts and Manufactures, who are anxious to open a corre- 

 spondence with public bodies in the British settlements, relative to 

 the resources, condition, and development of the trade, &c, of the 

 various British Colonies. Your Committee have referred this corre- 

 spondence to a Sub-Committee of Arts and Manufactures, consisting 

 of the Honourable the Chief Justice, C. A. Lorenz, Esq., the Revel. 

 J. Thurstan, and the Secretary, in whose hands the matter is left, 

 and who will take upon themselves to communicate with the Society 

 of Arts on the Subject of their Circular. 



During the year now terminated, the Society received additions 

 to its Members to the number of 19 ; whilst the vacancies, caused 

 by departures and deaths, amounted to 3. The total of Members 

 at present borne on the books of the Society is 87, a large number 

 than it could boast of at any previous period. 



The Treasurer will place before you a statement of the present 

 condition of the Society's funds, from which you will perceive, that 



